In the Heart of the Forest

○8○

Thea

Beep, beep, bee--

I slam my hand down on the snooze button of my alarm for the third time. I groan as I slowly pull the covers off of me and slither out of bed. My feet land in my soft carpet and I wiggle my toes.

I hear a knock at my door, "You up, Kiddo?" My dad says through the door.

"Yep, coming," I say groggily. I take a quick shower, put on some joggers and a hoodie, and make my way downstairs.

I walk into the kitchen to see both my parents standing at the counter, presumably waiting on me. "Hey, is there something wrong?" I say with trepidation.

"Actually, this is good news," my dad says with a smile before turning to my mom.

"You know how we are having the Lykos family over for dinner on Friday?" My mom says. I nod my head in understanding. She continues, "Well, we are going to be having an extra guest."

"Really? Who?" I say with my eyebrows furrowed.

"Your brother should be getting in that same evening for a short visit over the weekend," my mom finishes with a smile.

"Are you serious?" I exclaim with a smile. My brother and I, even though we are four years apart, are really close. We were each others best friend when he was still living with us. I was also his "Wing-Girl." He said that since I was a girl, I would give the best advice, which is true because I have saved him from multiple bad relationships. Speaking of relationships...

"Uhmm,there is something I would like to tell you guys..." I trail off as my parents turn their gazes to me.

"What is it, sweety?" My mom asks.

"Well, last Friday, a boy named Carter asked me to be his girlfriend," I then add in a low, high pitched voice with my eyes shut tight, "And I said yes."

The answers are simultaneous:

"Well, I suppose it's about time."

"WHAT?"

I flinch at my dad's loud voice. My mom plays a gentle hand on his shoulder, "She will be fine, David. To he honest, I was getting worried she wouldn't ever have any boys interested in her."

Wow, Mom. Thanks for that.

"I swear, if he hurts you, I will shoot him."

"I know you will, Dad. But he is a really nice guy. And besides, I would beat the crap out of him before you could even load your gun," I laugh. He smiles at me then and messes up my hair.

"Give me a hug, Kiddo. Best hug you now before you are all grown up with a more important man in your life than me," he says sentimentally. I walk across the kitchen and give my dad a small hug. I have always liked my Dad's hugs better than anyone else. They are the only ones I don't feel uncomfortable with. While I stand, still hugging my dad because he won't let go, my mom takes the liberty of re-fixing my hair back into its tight ponytail.

"Alright, I think that's enough affection for a year," I say, patting my dad on the back to let me go. He drops his arms and I go back to packing my lunch.

○○○

I am now sitting in English class with a very bored Carter sitting on my right, and a sleeping Rose on my left. Class is a bit more boring than usual, but I can't find it in me to sleep. I hate being disrespectful to the teachers like that. Unless, of course, I hate the teacher.

"I have a feeling this class is never going to end," Carter says, sliding his chair closer to mine. I close my eyes and sigh. I then feel a hand gently lay across my mid thigh.